Four Divisions Formed at Carillon

French Colonial Regular Soldiers

Pierre de Rigaud de Vaudreuil Governor of parish of Trois Rivieres assembled a detachment of fifteen hundred men for the “carrying Fort George by escalade,” beginning in the middle of February, 1757. The detachment was formed into four divisions at St.Jean, departing on February 20th. An account of the advantage acquired by the King’s Arms over the English noted the colonial regular troops were in the order of march.

The second, commanded by Captain du Chat, of the regiment of Languedoc, was composed of two pickets of Regulars, three companies of Colonials, with some Indians,

third, under the command of Captain Coni, of the regiment of Royal Roussillon, and which was composed as the second

The six companies of Colonial Troops made up about one fifth of the expedition. An Account of Two Expeditions in Canada, in the course of the winter of 1757, noted, “The detachment was composed of fifteen hundred men…three hundred Colonials.”

The Canadian colonial regular soldiers in the March raid on Fort William Henry had their regulation uniforms issued to them by the colony through the French naval ministry. The uniform coats or habit were issued every three years. Annually each man was to receive a veste, breeches, a pair of stockings, a hat, two pairs of shoes, two shirts, two cravats, as well as all, “the ordinary items that compose the small clothing furnished for this Colony.” An anonymous list of supplies from French Army Archives in 1756 records the nature of these additional clothing items so necessary for service in Canada.

Equipment for a soldier for the campaign during the summer months.

1 Blanket

1 Capote

1 Bonnet (tuque)

2 Cotton Shirts

1 Pair of Mitasses (leggings)

2 Skeins of Thread

6 Needles

1 Awl

1 Steel Striker

6 Gun Flints

1 Comb

1 Gun Worm

2 pots of Brandy for the Campaign

1 Pair of Souliers Tannes (Souliers de beouf)

1 Pound of Tobacco per Month

Issued for soldiers employed in winter expeditions.

2 Pairs of Chaussons (moccasin liners)

1 Gilet

Nippesfor the mocassins

1 Deerskin –to make moccasins in the manner of native warriors.

1 Tumpline

1 Toboggan

1 Pair of Snowshoes

1 Sealskin-to cover rations on the toboggan.

1 Tarp for 4 men for the tent.

1 Cannoniere (artillery tent) per 10 soldiers.

Stores at Fort Carillon by October of 1757 show a good supply of clothing stores going into the winter of 1757. Moccasins were in good supply at the Fort with a total of 15 hogshead barrels full of them. These were matched by a reserve of 84 pairs of usable snowshoes. Likewise in October of 1757 there were 158 capots, 109 pairs of wool leggings, and 229 blankets on hand. The Troupe de la Marine or colonial regulars had these Canadian winter garments as part of their annual issue of clothing. As with their French army counterparts it was in this dress that they marched out into the snow to try to catch Fort William Henry by surprise.

Shirts

Best: Hand-stitched correct period cotton shirt with narrow band cuffs made for sleeve buttons (cuff links).

Acceptable:White or blue and white striped linen or correct period cotton shirt with narrow band cuffs with thread buttons or made for sleeve buttons (cuff links) with minor visible machine-stitching.

Discouraged: Checked, striped linen, or wool shirts.

Unacceptable:Cotton calico or plaid shirts.

Neckwear

Best:Black wool crepe or silk cravats.

Acceptable: Linen or cotton neckerchief.

Unacceptable: Leather neck-stocks, wool scarves.

Hats and Caps

Best: Knit red yarn bonnet or tuque.

Acceptable:Soldiers’ chapeau bound in faux gold lace worn in and around the barracks.

Unacceptable: Fur cap, voyageur cap.

Capotes

Best: Hand-finished, well fit white wool cloth capote with round cuffs and hood closing with a single button at the neck.